Top closure operator for tanks



p 1968 v. P. JOHANNSEN TOP CLOSURE OPERATOR FOR TANKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1967 INVENTOR VERTUS P. JOHANNSEN ATTORNEY Sept. 0, 1968 v. P. JOHANNSEN 3,400,850

TOP CLOSURE OPERATOR FOR TANKS Filed Jan. 6, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 INVENTOR.

ERTUS P. JOHANNSEN p 10, 1968 v. P. JOHANNSEN 3,400,850

TOP CLOSURE OPERATOR FOR TANKS Filed Jan. 6, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 131 141 INVENTOR.

VERTUS P. OHANNSEN BY g ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,400,850 TOP CLOSURE OPERATOR FOR TANKS Vertus P. Johannsen, St. Paul, Minn, assignor to John Wood Company, East Orange, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 607,774 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-25) ABSTRACT OF THE. DISCLOSURE My invention relates to a top closure for premix or postmix tanks of the types which recently have come into common usage. In the premix tank, a soft drink is mixed ready for deli-very to the customer, and discharged from the tank by means of a gaseous pressure expellant introduced into the tank. In the postmix tank, only the syrup for the soft drink is contained within the tank, and expelled by a gaseous pressure medium injected into the tan-k. The syrup is discharged through valve-controlled piping means into the glass or other receptacle, and carbonated water or other vehicle then added to the syrup to make the finished drink.

One object of my invention is to provide an elongated closure for use with a tank which has a top portion formed with an elongated, or elliptical, shaped opening therein, the elongated closure being inserted into and rotatably moved into closing position in said opening by means of a manually operated handle means, with a gasketing means between the upper surface of the periphery of the top closure and the underside of the lip of the opening in the tank.

Another object of my invention is to provide a top closure which has an operating handle means extending outwardly, which may be readily grasped by the hand of the operator and which handle includes two arms which are adapted to frictionally engage the top portion of the tank in order to forcibly close the top closure gasket in tight sealing relation with the top opening of the tank.

Another important feature of my invention is to provide means to effect initial sealing pressure to the gasketing meansby the action of the arms of the top closure handle means against the top portion of the container, and to provide means adequately forceful to maintain said handle means in closed position under full tank pressure.

Referring to said drawings;

FIG. 1 is a reduced scale top plan view of a tank provided with a metal top closure means embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical elevation view of the tank shown in FIG. 1, but with most of the body portion of the tank omitted; the overall height of, for example, a five-gallon tank being approximately 28 or 29 inches.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the metal top closure means, shown ona larger scale and being approximately full size.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the top closure means shown in FIG. 3 and on the same scale as FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the top closure means shown in FIG. 3, looking toward the left as in FIG, 3

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the inlet valve indicated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 66 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the outlet valve fitting taken on the line 77 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 isa top plan view of a modified form of top closure means formed .from plastic material, and being shown approximately full size.

' FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the top closure means shown in FIG. 8.

FIG-'10 is a-sideelevation view of the top closure "Ice means shown in FIG. 8, looking toward theleft as in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view showing in full and dotted lines the cross member under tension and in .relaxed position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, inclusive, of saiddrawings; the tank body 1 is substantially cylindrical in form, and provided with a top portion 2 and a bottom portion, or foot, 3. Both the top portion 2 and the bottom 3 of the tank 1 are preferably convex in configuration in order to resist the gaseous pressure when it is applied to the tank. Both the top portion 2 andthe base 3 are rigidly connected, respectively, to the top and to the bottom of the tank body 1. i

The top portion 2 of the tank 1 is provided with an inlet valve fitting 5 and an outlet fitting 6. The inlet fitting 5 is the means by which gas under pressure, usually carbon dioxide, is applied to the contents of the tank which ,are placed therein before the top closure is attached to the center opening through which the tank may be filled. The outlet fitting 6 is adapted to be connected by piping means to the bottom portion of the tank, and] the outer exposed portion of the fitting 6 is adapted to be connected by a fitting with suitable conduit means for dispensing of the liquid within the tank 1. Both the fitting 5 and the fitting 6 are preferably of the self-closure type, such as springloaded valve closure means, and which is adapted to become opened when a connection fitting of a well-known construction is applied to either of the fittings. Of course, when the gas under pressure is introduced into the tank through the fitting 5, the pressure gas connection fitting is removed when the contents of the tank have been pressurized to the desired value, and the spring-loadedvalve of the fitting 5 closes immediately. The top portion 2 of the tank 1 is provided with an enlarged substantially elliptical, or elongated, shaped opening 8, the opening 8 being greater in length than in width, said opening 8 being provided with an outwardly extending rim 10 which extends above the plane portion 11 of the top portion 2.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the inlet fitting 5 is mounted in fluid-tight relationship on the top portion 2, said fitting 5 including a depending tube 12 extending toward the lower portion of the tank body 1. Said fitting 5 conveniently includes a valve seat 13a, a spring-loaded valve member 13, the valve stem 14 of which is surrounded by the spring 15. the lower end of the spring 15 being in engaging contact with the spider platform member 16.

As best shown in FIG. 7, the outlet fitting 6 is mounted in fluid-tight relationship on the plane portion 11a of the top portion 2, said fitting 6 includes a depending tube 18 extending toward the bottom portion of the tank body 1. Said fitting 6, conveniently, includes a similar spring loaded valve member 20, the valve stem 21 of which is surrounded by the spring 22, the lower end of the spring 22 being in engagement with the spider platform member 23. Both fittings 5 and 6 are provided O-rings at their top portions for forming a fluid-tight connection with their respective connection fittings (not shown). i

I find it convenient to provide the top portion 2 with upwardly extending projections 24 and 26, which are oppositely opposed in configuration, and each is provided with an opening therethrough to form 'a hand-hold by which the tank may be readily and facilely moved about.

The closure means for the opening it in the top portion 2 is the metal closure member indicated generally at 27 in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The closure member 27 is of elliptical shape and substantially congruent in configuration with the opening 8. The closure member 27 is provided with an enlarged flange portion 29 which provides a shoulder with the lesser dimensioned upstanding-portion 30. A rubber, or the like, gasket 31 surroundsthe vertical portion and the underside of the gasket member rests on the offset flange portion 29. The gasket 31 is adapted to engage the under surface of the lip of the upstanding projection 10 on the top portion 2 and to become sealingly engaged therewith as hereinafter described.

The closure member 27 is provided with a cross member 33 which is rigidly connected to the cover member 27. The respective outer ends 35 and 36 of the cross member 33 are upturned at substantially right angles to provide bearing openings 37 for the handle member 40 adapted to be inserted therethrough.

The cross member 33 is rigidly secured to the top of the closure member 27 by means of spot welding, or the like, as indicated at 56 in FIG. 3.

I have found it desirable to form the cross member 33 of material which has inherent spring action, such as, for example, 0.074" thick stainless steel, /2 hard temper. As best shown in FIG. 5, the outer portions 60 and 61 of the cross member 33, between the outer ends 35 and 36 and the portion of the cross member 33 rigidly secured to the top surface of the top closure 27, are bent angularly upwardly. Such a construction provides a spring action of adequate force on the handle member 40 to maintain it in closed position under full tank pressure.

The handle member, indicated generally by the reference mark 40, is of a somewhat V shape, as appears in the plan view FIG. 3, and provided with an integral connection portion 41 and leg portions 42 and 43. The left hand ends, as in FIG. 3, of the angled position leg members 42 and 43 are bent outwardly as at 45 and 46 in a plane substantially horizontally parallel to the outer horizontal portions of the cross member 33. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the outer ends of the handle member 40 beyond the portions 45 and 46 are bent downwardly to form outer leg portions 48 and 49. I find it convenient to provide the outer ends of the portions 48 and 49 with resilient or plastic coverings 50 and 51 to frictionally engage the top portion 2 to hold the closure member 27 in locked fluid-tight relationship in the opening 8.

As indicated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, a seal bracket 57, having an opening 58 through its vertical portion, may be rigidly fastened, as by spot welding, to the top surface of the top closure 27. A seal wire, not shown, may be inserted through the opening 58 and sealed around the leg portion 42 of the handle member 40 to prevent any unauthorized refilling of the container 1.

Referring to the modified form of closure shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, inclusive; the closure means for the opening 8 in the top portion 2 is the plastic cover member indicated generally at 127 in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. The closure member 127 is of elliptical shape and also is substantially congruent in configuration with the opening 8. The closure member 127 is provided with a thick enlarged flange portion 129 which provides a shoulder with the lesser dimensioned upstanding portion 130. A rubber, or the like, gasket 131 surrounds the vertical portion 130 and the underside of the gasket member rests on the offset flange portion 129. The gasket 131 is adapted to engage the under surface of the lip of the upstanding projection 10 on the top portion 2 and to become sealingly engaged therewith as hereinafter described.

The closure member 127 is provided with a cross member 133 which is rigidly connected to the cover member 127. The respective outer ends 135 and 136 of the cross member 133 are upturned at substantially right angles to provide bearing openings 137 for the handle member 140 adapted to be inserted therethrough.

The cross member 133, conveniently, is rigidly secured to the closure member 127 by means of screws 161 which extend through the cross member 133 into screw-threaded openings formed in the plastic closure member 127.

I have found it desirable to form the cross member 133 of material which has the same inherent spring action Cir as has been described heretofore in connection with the cross member 33. The cross member 133 is of the same configuration and functions in the same manner as the cross member 33.

The handle member is of a somewhat V shape, as appears in the plan view FIG. 8 and provided with an integral connection portion 141 and leg portions 142 and 143. The left hand ends, as in FIG. 8, of the angled position leg members 142 and 143 are bent outwardly as at 145 and 146 in a plane substantially horizontally parallel to the outer horizontal portions of the cross member 133. As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the outer ends of the handle member 140 beyond the portions 145 and 146 are bent downwardly to form outer leg portions 148 and 149. I find it convenient to provide the outer ends of the portions 148 and 149 with resilient or plastic coverings 150 and 151 to frictionally engage the top portion 2 to hold the closure member 127 in locked fluid-tight relationship in the opening 8.

I find it convenient to provide the cross member 133 with a manually-operated pressure relief valve 153 which is provided with a handle portion 154, by which the relief valve may be manually turned to open or closed posi tion.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, inclusive; assuming that the tank 1 is empty and the top closure 27 removed from the opening 8; the liquid to be dispensed from the tank may be introduced into the tank 1 through the widemouthed opening 8 until it reaches a predetermined level. Thereafter the handle member 40 of the top closure 27 is moved counterclockwise to a position substantially 90 more or less, from the positions shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 inclusive, and the closure member 27 is then inserted through the opening 8 and rotated until it is substantially congruent in position with the lip 10 of the top portion 2. The handle member 40 is then manually moved clockwise until it assumes the position shown best in FIGS. 4 and 2. When in such position, the coverings 50 and 51 of the ends of the portions 48 and 49 of the handle member 40 become engaged with the upper surface of the top portion 2 and the manual force necessary to move the handle member 40 to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 2 is sufiicient to cause the gasket 31 to become sealingly engaged in fluid-tight relationship with the underside of the lip 10 of the opening 8 in the top closure 2.

I find it convenient to provide the cross member 33 with a manually operated pressure relief valve 53 which is provided with a handle portion 54, by which the relief valve may be manually turned to open or close the vent openings 54a to atmosphere. Assuming that the relief valve 53 has been turned to closed position, the inlet valve 5 is then connected by suitable coupling means at the end of a conduit connected to a source of supply of gas, etc., under pressure, which gas is introduced into the tank through the opened valve 13, to thereby permit the introduction of air or gas under pressure to the inside of the tank 1. When the pressure within the tank has reached the desired predetermined value, the coupling on the end of the supply hose is removed, thereby permitting the valve 13 of the inlet member 5 to be moved to closed position on its seat 1311 by the effective forces of the spring 15 surrounding the stem 14.

Thereafter, the tank 1 may be transported or moved to any desirable location at which the liquid within the tank under pressure is to be dispensed. The coupling at the end of a valve controlled hose, or other conduit, is connected to the outlet member 6 which coupling is provided with means to efiect opening of the valve member 20. Thereafter liquid may be dispensed under pressure by the operator moving the valve operating means of any convenient design, not shown, at the dispensing end of the dispensing hose connected to the outlet fitting 6.

The tank with the plastic top closure 127 operates in the same manner as heretofore described with reference to the metal top closure 27.

I claim:

1. A closure means for sealing in fluid-tight relationship an elongated opening formed in the top of a tank for dispensing a liquid under pressure, comprising a rigid elongated closure means of larger dimensions and substantially congruent configuration with said elongated opening formed in the top of the tank, said closure means being inser'table into the interior of the tank through said elongated opening; a sealing gasket member mounted on a peripheral flange formed on said closure means; a cross member rigidly secured at its middle portion to the top surface of said closure means, said cross member being formed of material which has inherent spring action; a pivotally movable handle member for said closure means, said handle member including two spaced apart leg portions; a downwardly bent end portion at the outer end of each of said leg portions, each of said end portions being bent downwardly at an angle of the 20 order of 90 from its respective leg portion; said cross member including integral intermediate portions bent angularly upward from each side of said middle portion secured to said closure means; the opposite outer ends of said cross member being bent upwardly at an angle of the order of 90 from the top surface of said closure means; and an opening in each outer end of said cross member, said openings forming respective bearing means for the respective leg portions of said handle member inserted therethroug-h; whereby, the inherent spring action of said cross member provides adequate forces on said handle member to maintain it in closed position under full tank pressure.

2. A closure means as in claim 1; wherein said integral intermediate portions of said cross member are bent angularly upward to such an angle in its relaxed position, so that said angle is increased by movement of said handle member to closed position, to thereby cause said cross member to efiect adequate forces on said handle member which maintains said handle member in closed position under full tank pressure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner. 

